Blood Wolf Town, located about fifty miles west of Wanchao City, nestled between two mountains, was a crucial transport hub of the Tianfeng Empire's western region. Anyone traveling from the empire's western part to its heartland had to pass through this small town. The vast mountains on either side of the town were fraught with dangers, including bizarre races, terrifying magical beasts, and naturally perilous environments too challenging for many. But as it often goes, greater risks bring greater opportunities. There were legends of secluded retreats left by powerful masters deep in the mountains, some even housing techniques and Dou Skills left by experts who failed to break through to higher levels.
In Blood Wolf Town, it wasn't rare for someone to stumble upon a scroll of technique or Dou Skill in some cave deep in the mountains. Selling such a find in town could set a person up for life. However, high rewards came with high risks, and not everyone was entitled to keep such treasures; some paid for them with their lives. Dominating Blood Wolf Town was the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group. Even the imperial officials stationed there had deep connections with the mercenaries, illustrating the group's comparable influence to Wanchao City's three major families.
Although Yin Tianjie, the leader, was arrogant, he knew that sheer force and plundering were insufficient for growing his influence. Instead, he offered a degree of protection to the merchants and travelers passing through Blood Wolf Town, depending on the protection fees they paid. Those too proud to pay often met with no responsibility from the mercenaries. Under such lucrative operations, the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group grew immensely wealthy. They effectively secured this crucial transport route, turning Blood Wolf Town into a haven for mercenaries and a den of extravagant pleasures.
Inside a large tavern in town, a group of heavily armed mercenaries, faces bearing the scars of battle, were shouting loudly. Some boasted of their ferocious beast hunts, others bragged about assaulting a woman on the road. Most of them were gulping down beer, spending their hard-earned coins like water. For mercenaries, living each day as if it were their last was both their creed and their highest law.
At that moment, a burly, drunken mercenary stood on a table, loudly recounting his encounter with a female mercenary in the wilderness, who was "conquered" by his "heroism" and ended up engaging in a wild battle with him. His excited, saliva-flecked tale drew interested listens from both male and female mercenaries, though some frowned slightly. But nobody really interfered; after all, in their line of work, disputes often escalated to violence. Why bother with matters unrelated to one's survival?
However, the boasting mercenary had barely gotten to the part about the woman's attractive body when a light chuckle came from a nearby table: "Just playing with a woman, what's there to brag about?"
Everyone was momentarily stunned, their gazes turning toward the source of the remark. Those with some experience anticipated another deadly duel unfolding that night. The tavern owner slowly cleared the counter, accustomed to such scenes.
"Kid! What did you say? I'm boasting? Look at you, probably a greenhorn, envious and resentful? Just say it, I won't blame you!" The boisterous mercenary jumped down and strode over, grabbing the collar of the speaker and lifting him up.
Only then did the crowd see clearly: the speaker was a young man, no more than twenty, dressed in shabby clothes, drinking the cheapest beer, with a worn longsword at his waist and no armor – clearly a low-ranking mercenary. But the young mercenary wasn't intimidated; he shrugged off the big guy's hand and slurred, "Just playing with a woman, what's so great about that? I, young master me... tomorrow I'll call a hundred women! I'll play in turns! Play for you all to see! Make you all envious!"
Laughter erupted around them, and the big mercenary laughed heartily, "Kid, you can't even afford tonight's drinks, and you want to play with a hundred women? Do you think you're the leader of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group?"
The young mercenary drunkenly stood up, flipping a middle finger and muttering, "Young master me... although not the leader of the Blood Wolves... it's almost the same... It's time for young master me to rise... you... you losers, just be envious for life!"
The environment suddenly grew tense as the crowd's gaze shifted to the young mercenary. Was this kid unafraid of death? The big mercenary spat and challenged, "If you're so capable, tell us what you have that can make us envious! If you can't, I'll break your limbs and throw you out to the dogs!"
"Say it? I'll say it... Who's afraid of whom!" the young mercenary mumbled. Climbing onto a nearby table with effort, he wobbled as he stood, his eyes hazy, "Listen up... young master me... today, I went to catch... a wild ball beast to sell... for money... But... But my luck... While catching the beast, I fell... into a pit... Guess what happened!"
At this point, the young mercenary vomited, but his expression was intoxicated. His words had already shocked the sober-minded in the tavern. Seeing the young man's state, they wondered if... Someone prompted, "What could it be! At most, you found some beast bones!"
The crowd laughed in agreement. "Beast bones?" the young mercenary scoffed. "What's that? Can it be sold for money? Let me tell you... I found... a human corpse... with a scroll of technique on it!"
A cold chill swept through the tavern. Such occurrences, while rare, were not unheard of in Blood Wolf Town. Usually, those who found such treasures only boasted about it afterward, but this foolish mercenary...
Many had already gripped their weapons, ready to act. The air thickened with murderous intent, and it was clear that many were prepared to strike. Yet the young mercenary on the table seemed oblivious to the shocked scene he had caused, appearing satisfied with the impact of his words. He belched, then continued, "You ignorant fools... surely, you've never seen a scroll of a technique of the Phoenix level... Let me show you!"
With that, he produced a scroll emitting a faint cyan glow and held it high. "It's really a scroll!" "We're rich!" "Kill him! Kill him!" "Move aside! The scroll is mine!" Various voices erupted as weapons were drawn. In an instant, the tavern turned into a bloodbath, with half the people falling in the first clash.
"My scroll!" the young mercenary screamed, finally snapping to reality. But the tall mercenary had already snatched the scroll, laughing triumphantly after a quick glance, "Phoenix high level!? It's really a Phoenix high level! I'm invincible now!"
His laughter was cut short as his head flew off, and the scroll was seized by a silver-armored mercenary who dashed towards the exit. "It's Silver Fang! Kill him! I always hated him!" "Come at me if you dare! I..." Silver Fang's hand was severed mid-air, and the scroll flew into another's grasp. But whoever obtained it immediately became the target.
Some, realizing their limits, calmly stepped back, knowing they couldn't secure the scroll even if they obtained it. These few hurried to inform the major powers in Blood Wolf Town, and soon the news of a Phoenix high-level technique spread throughout the town... That night, few in Blood Wolf Town would sleep.
Many mercenaries had already shifted from the tavern to the streets, drawing even more into the fray, their eyes fixed only on the scroll. After a while, amidst a pool of blood, one person slowly rose – the young mercenary. He trembled with fear but made his way to a dark corner of the tavern, whispering, "Sir... I did what you asked... Is it... good enough..."
From the shadows, a figure in black attire chuckled lightly, "Not bad, you did well, I'm quite satisfied..."